The Night Prayer

Allah has ordered Muslims to pray in the night, and specifically during the last third period of night, as it is considered to be one of the most rewarded acts of worshiping Him.

But does not this contradict the published studies that sleeping for 8 hours straight (or more) at one stretch is healthier for the body?

Recent studies have confirmed that sleeping for long hours may actually limit a person’s life. And that that waking up in the middle of the night may help in prolonging life.

Doctors say that sleeping for long hours helps in the disorder of the heart’s muscle. Researchers believe that waking up for half an hour during night time is a beneficial habit, where it activates the heart and feeds it with oxygen. Therefore it is advisable for people to wake up for a little time at night to activate the brain and heart cells.

We have to always understand that whenever there is a contradiction between science and Qur’an, we should beside the Quran’s statements, as Allah says in His book: We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth [41:53].

Here are a couple of references that talk about sleep linked to cardiovascular diseases and the 8 hour sleep myth.

1] http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/39/12/3185.full?maxtoshow&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT&fulltext=sleep&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

2] http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201403/nightly-8-hour-sleep-isnt-rule-its-myth

3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmented_sleep

and here is an additional link which is a brief on Qiyam-ul-layl (night prayer)

http://www.gsalam.net/qiyamullail-its-significance-effects-and-guidelines/